Scorpio Invasion

Chapter three

Chapter threeWe three moved smoothly and without undue haste away from the crowds, and avoiding the further series of arcades struck down a side street. The mingled streaming lights of the Suns of Scorpio flamed into my eyes. Shadows lay to our rear, not overlong shadows, for here in Walfarg we were not too far north of the Equator. The heat was appreciably lessening as the afternoon turned into evening.

“And not a Llahal between us,” observed the man.

“Llahal,” I said at once. “My name is Drajak,” giving the name I’d used most recently down south in Tsungfaril. “Drajak ti Zamran.”

“Lahal, walfger Drajak. I am Wanlicheng, Ornol Wanlicheng once of Paramdan and now a wandering scholar—”

“Oh, San Ornol! You are a great teacher,” burst out the girl, Xinthe. “Yes,” she went on, half scoldin